Improvement in steam-traps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. NVATIS, OIT-LAWRENCE, ,MASSACHUSETTS IMPRovi-:M ENT IN STEAM-TRAPS.

Specification forming part ot- Letters Patent No. 88,103,` dated March 23, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it, known that I, JOSEPH E. WATTS, of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and Commonwealthof Massachusetts, have made an invention of a new and useful or Improved Automatic Steam-Trap; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making lpart of this specification, and in Which- Figure l is a vertical and central section, andv Fig. 2 a horizontal section, of my invention.

It is presumed that all intelligent mechanics-and to such persons this specification is chiey addressed-are familiar with the purposes of a steam-trap, asitis generally termed, that is to allow of the discharge of condensed water resulting from the condensation of steam without loss or escape of such steam.

My invention relates to means for accomplishing theabove purpose in a simple and effective manner, and certain minor details in construction, from which advantages result of suficient importance to make my invention valuable as compared with most, it' not all, others now in use.

The invention consists in the employment of an attenuated pipe or shell, provided in a suitable manner with a valve-seat at bottom, and

at its upper part properlyprepared for connection with any object containing condensing steam, the interior of such pipe containing a tube or rod composed of a more expansible metal than itself, and carrying a valve at bottom to shut upon the valve-seat before mentioned, the upper portion of said valve-rod extending through the top ot' the outer tube, or a stuffing-box applied thereto, and being depressed toward the valve-seat by a spring suit- .ably applied, such spring acting', in conjunction with a regulating gage or stop, in such manner as to vary the distance of the valve from its seat, according to varying conditions of locality and the metal employed, it being necessary to the successful operation of my invention that the length of the valve-rod with respect to its case shall be such that in its longest condition it shall close the valve-port and in its shortest condition shall remain some distance above such port, or sufficiently so to allow of easy escape of water thereby, the whole being as hereinafter explained.

In the drawings before alluded to as accompanying this specication, and which illustrate my invention, A denotes a pipe, cylinder, or casing of somewhat attenuated length, such casing being composed of iron, as being cheap ot' production, and to a great extent of little comparative expansive properties, the lower extremity of such casing being provided in any suitable manner with a valve-seat, a, and outlet b for permitting of exit of water therefrom. Toward its upper end the casing A is formed with an inlet opening or pipe, c, for permitting entrance of steam and water, while above such inlet c, and at its extreme upper end, the casing A is provided with a stuffing-box, d.

B in the drawings denotes the valve-rod, being in this instance, toincrease its radiating and absorbing area or surface, preferably composed ot' a tube, the metal of such valve-rod B being of a more expansible nature than its surrounding case. The valve-rod B is provided at its lower end with a valve, e, to operate in conjunction with the valve-seat a, before mentioned, and passes upward through the stuffin g-box d, as represented, the purpose of the latter, as will at once be understood, being to prevent passage of steam or water about the valve-rod and from the case A at this point.

C denotes an annular inverted cup, secured upon the valve-rod and surrounding the upper part of the stuiiing-box and its cap, such cup resting upon the top of the case A, and by this means determining the relative positions of the valve and itsseat. A check-nut, f, is screwed upon the valve-rod and down upon the cup c to prevent rotation of the latter upon the former, while im mediately above the said checknutf, and upon the upper end ofthe rod, a second nut, g, is secured, a small space intervening between the two.

D is a bent and yokeshaped spring spanning the top of the case A and cup c, and se curedv to opposite sides ot' such case, the said springpressing upon the upper nut, g, with considerable force, and as a consequence, depressing the valverod and forcing its attached cup c to a bearing upon the top of the case A, as before premised.

The device is to be so-disposed with respect to an object containing steam as to allow of' free entrance of the condense-Water to the interior ot' the case through its inlet or oriice c. As the condense-Water collects Within and partially or wholly lls the case A it parts with its latent heat, and as the temperature is re, duced its ei'ect upon the valve-rod is such as to contract the same to a greater extent than the case A, by this means raising the valve e from oft' its seat and allow the water to escape through the outletport b, or to be driven through it by pressure of the steam upon or against it. In this way the interior of the case A is emptied, or nearly so, of its contents ot' Water, which is replaced by steam, which fllows the retreat of such water. The high comparative temperature ofthe steam expands the body or surface ot' the valve-rod in excess of that ot' the case A to such a degree as to lower. the valve upon the seat a and prevent escape of steam through the latter. The closing of the valve allows the condense-water to accumulate Within the case A until it acquires sufficient body and arrives at the proper temperature to contract the valve-rod and open the port in manner and with results first explained.

The adjustment o the length of the valverod, and consequently the relative position of the valve and seat, would be a Work of considerable time, and varying with changing conditions ot' metal and locality, were it not for the employment of the gage or regulating cup or disk c, as operated by the spring D or its equivalent, as stated.

The whole device is simple and cheap of construction, and is effective in any position or locality in which it may be applied, and, as bel'ore premised, allows automatically the escape of condense-water Without the loss of any appreciable amount of steam.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement,with the outer case, A, its inlet and outlet ports and valve-seat, of the valve-rod and valve Within said oase, and the gage and spring for actuating and controlling said valve-rod, substantially as shown and set forth.

JOSEPH E. WATTS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM SPARROGK, WILLIAM ROBINSON. 

